Electrical connector



April 30, 1963 3,088,089

S. E. GREGOIRE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 18, 1958 I q 42 'Z- c;

INVENTOR. 54 53 55 STEPHEN E. GREGOIRE ATTOR YS 56 Byqm addi/m thelimits of the invention.

United States Patent O ce This invention relates to a separableelectrical connector. The connector of the illustrative embodiment isparticularly adapted for use in, although is not restricted to,applications wherein the respective parts are mounted `rupon bodieswhich are selectively retained together and separated from each other.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel separableelectrical connector.

A furtherobject of the invention lies in the provision Vof, a separableelectr-ical connector having the two main t -parts thereof sealed tobodies which are selectively held together and released from each other.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision Aof animproved `separable electrical connector, wherein the socketcontact-carrying portion 'thereofV has a retractable Ycap which liessubstantially flush with the outer end of such portion when the contactpin-carrying portion of the connector is disconnected therefrom.

Still a further object of the invention lies in the .provision `of animproved separable electrical connector having the pin-carrying portionthereof sealed to the body upon-which it is mounted, the pin-carryingportion being held thereonpso as to have a limited range of universalmovement with respect Ithereto.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedseparable electrical connector having improved Sealing means between thesocket contact and pin contact-carrying portions thereof when suchportions are in operative engagement.

The above and further objects and novel Ifeatures of the invention willmore fully appear from the following description when the same is readin connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expresslyVunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only and are not intended as a definition of In thedrawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views,

FIG. l is a fragmentary view of a separable electrical connector made inaccordance with the invention, the two main parts of the connector beingshown in engaged operative position, portions of the bodies upon whichthe two connector parts are mounted, as well as the means selectivelyYholding such bodies together, being fragmentarily shown, certain of theparts belng shown in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical axial section i through thecontact pin-carrying portion of the connector shown in FIG. l, suchportion being shown in the position which it bears relatively to itssupporting body lwhen it is disconnected from the contactsocket-carrying portion of the connector; and

FIG. 3 is a view in verticalaxial section through the socketcontact-carrying portion of the connector, the parts of such portionbeing shown in the position they assume when thetpin-Vcarrying portionof the connector is removed from operativeV engagement therewith.

The embodiment of separable electrical. connector shown is particularlyadapted for use in applications where two bodies are selectively heldtogether or disconnected from each other, and there is an electricalcircuit which extends from one body to the other which is broken whenthe two bodies are separated from each other. Small target or droneairplanes, which are carried aloft by a mother airplane and are thereseparated 3,088,089 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 2 therefrom, present a needfor such separable connector, since the drone airplane has one or moremechanisms which is supplied with power and/ or signals while it remainsattached to the mother airplane.

A separable electrical connector, in order to be satis- Vfactory forsuchV service, must have characteristics which are ordinarily notpresent in conventional connectors. Thus, the two connector parts mustremain sealed from the atmosphere throughout wide variations ofatmospheric pressure, whether or not they are vin operative engagementor are disconnected from each other. It is also necessary that one ofthe connector parts, preferably that carrying the pinV contact, shall beyieldably mounted and capable of tilting `in any direct-ion throughout alimited range to prevent injury of the connector parts during separationofthe bodies. It is also highly desirable that when the parts Yare inoperative engagement they are sealed to each Lother, so that, when thereare provided means sealing the parts-to their respective bodies, theelectrical circuit through the connector is completely sealed from theatmosphere. lFinally, it is highly desirable that the connector portionmounted on the drone airplane shall present `as streamline a surface aspossible, and that the seal Vbetween it and its body shall besubstantially protected from the weather. The illustrative electricalconnector fulfills all such requirements satisfactorily, and Yfulfillsthe above stated objects of the invention by novel combinations ofelements to be described.

In'FIG. 1 there are shown a portion 10 of the skin or outer surface of aparent aircraft and a fragment designated 1.1 of the skin or outersurface of a drone aircraft, which in FIG. 1 is shown attached to theparent aircraft by releasable means generally designated 13. Theconnector of the invention includes a contact pin-carrying portiongenerally designated 12, which is connected to the A parent aircraft,anda mating socket contact-carrying portion generally designated 14,mounted on the drone aircraft. Referring `now to FIGS. l and 2, thestructure of portion 12 ofthe connector and the means mounting it onmember 10 will now be described.

VA cup-like member 15 having a central opening in the bottom thereof issecured .to skin 10 of the parent aircraft by means not shown, so thatsuch opening is aligned with similarv opening 16 in skin 10. ATheaxially inner end ,of member -15 is provided with a transverse cover 17which is secured thereto by screws, as shown. A shielded cable 20, whichmaybe, for example .a lead from -an exciter mounted in the parentaircraft to supply the -ignition system of the drone aircraft, has itsend extending into and sealed as by being welded to aV metal Igrornme-tor ferrule 19 which is mounted upon cover 17. Mounted coaxially ofmember 151 is a smaller inner cup-like member 21 which is constantlyurged in an axially outer direction toward the position of FIG. 2 by acoil compression spring 22 which is held therewithin and which abutscover 17 at itstaxially inner end.

The contact pin-carrying portion of the separable connector has agenerally circular cylindrical metallic shell 24, the inner end of whichextends through a central opening in the end wall of element 21. Aradially outwardly extending flange 23 on shell 24 lies axiallyoutwardly of and is connected to the end Wall of element 21. Thus, shell24 is integrally connected to member 21 and is constantly thrust in anaxially outward direction lby `spring 22. Shell 24 carries therewithin afirst, radially outer tubular insulating member 23 bonded to the shell,a second, axially inner electrically insulating member 30 withininsulator 23', and a third, axially outer insulating member 125 made ofelastic material such as rubber.

3 center a contact pin 26 within the shell, and also serve to seal it tothe shell.

The inner end of the contact pin is extended axially inwardly of theshell at 27, and is connected to a exible pigtail 29 which may be acontinuation of cable 20. Altern- -atively the upper end of pigtajl 29may be connected to cable 20 within grommet 19. A flexible boot member31 has its lower end telescoped over and sealed to the upper end ofshell 24 within member 21. The upper end of boot member 31 is telescopedover and is Isealed to the end of grommet 19 which lies inwardly ofcover 17. It will be seen that the -above described |apparatusconstitutes a structure which is heimetically sealed in its extent fromthe contact pin 26 to the cable 20, regardless of the position of shell24 with respect to skin 10.

The contact socket-carrying portion 14 of 'the separable electricalconnector is secured as 'by welding to a plate member 32 which liesinwardly of Iand is secured to skin 11 of the drone by means not shown.The shell 34 of portion 14 is of circular cylindrical configuration andis disposed with its outer end extending through aligned openings inmembers 11 and 32, the outer surface of portion 14 lying substantiallyflush with the outer surface of skin 11.

An inner shell 35, which has the end thereof remote from skin 11radially outwardly flanged at 33, is secured as by welding to shell 34so las to lie coaxial thereof. The bodies of shells 34 and 35 have suchdiameters relative to the other that there is an annular space ofsubstantial radial width presented between the shells. The inner shell35 carries an elongated rubber insert 36 which is disposed coaxi-al ofthe shells with its outer end surface 57 lying flush with the outer endof shell 34. Insert 36, which is snugly and sealingly held in shell 35,serves to support a socket contact 37 axially therewithin. The socketcontact and the lead pin connected to the inner end thereof are sealedto insert 36.

The axially outer end of shell 24 of portion 12 of the connector is inthe form of an annular hood 39 which encloses and is radially spacedfrom contact pin 26. The outer lower surface 40 of hood 39 is in theshape of a frustum of an outwardly converging cone. The radially innersurface of the lower end of shell 24, including that within hood 39 isprovided with a thin insulating layer 41, which may be made for exampleof tetrauroethylene, sold under the trade name Teflon.

When portions 12 and 14 of the separable electrical connector are inoperative engagement, as shown in FIG. l, the lower end of hood 39 isreceived within the annular space presented between the axially outerends of shell 34 and insert 36. The inner diameter of insulating sleeve41 somewhat exceeds the outer diameter of the outer end of insert 36, sothat the outer end of the insert is freely slidable within hood 39. Whenportions 12 and 14 of the connector are in operative engagement theouter end 57 of insert 36 and the outer end 59 of insert 25 arepositioned firmly in contact so as to present a seal therebetween. Asshown in FIG. 1, the outer end of hood 39 is cylindrical and has anouter diameter closely approximating the inner diameter of the outer endof shell 34. Such outer end of shell 34 thus functions as an annularguide which accurately engages the cylindrical zone on the outer end ofthe hood.

To maintain portions 12 and 14 in such fully engaged position until theyare deliberately released from each other by the operation of means 13,the shells 24 and 34 are provided with cooperating releasable lockingmeans. In the embodiment shown, such locking means Vtakes the form of aspring ring 42 mounted in Ian annular, radially inwardly open groove, inthe thickened outer end portion 44 of shell 34. The ring 42 is of suchrelaxed diameter, land the groove in which it is positioned is of suchdepth, that the ring normally lies With a substantial portion thereofprotruding radially inwardly from portion 44 0f shell 34. Beyond theinner, larger end of frusto-conical surface 40 of hood 39 there ispositioned an 'annular groove 45 which is so located that it confrontsand receives spring ring 42 when parts 12 and 14 of the connector arefully engaged. The described locking means retains shells 34 and 24together, following the release of means 13, so that an additionalforce, such as the weight of the drone, is required to separate theshells 24 yand 34. A locking means in which such required added force ison the order of 15 pounds has proved satisfactory.

It is desirable that the connector portion 14 present as littleaerodynamic drag as possible when the drone is disconnected from theparent aircraft, and that such connector portion be shielded at least toa large extent from the atmosphere. To :accomplish these results,connector portion 14 is provided with an annular cap member 46 which ismounted within yshell 34, such cap member being retractable upon theinsertion of hood 39 into shell 34 and advanceable into operativeshielding position upon the withdrawal of the hood 39 therefrom. Cap 46has an inner circular cylindrical portion 49 which accurately slidinglytits within shell 34. Outwardly of portion 49, cap 46 is flangedinwardly at 50. Beyond portion 50 the cap extends generally axially inan annular portion 51 of smaller diameter, the cap terminating in anouter annular incurled end 52.

Cap 46 is normally urged into the outermost position thereof, shown inFIG. 3, by ya coil compression spring 47 positioned in the annular space'between outer shell 34 and inner shell 35 and insert 36 carriedthereby, the inner end of the spring abutting the flange 33 on shell 35and the outer end of the spring abutting the flanged portion 50 of thecap. The cap is held in the outer position shown in FIG. 3, when theportions 12 and 14 of the connector are disengaged, by reason of theengagement between flange portion 50 of the cap and the inner annularedge or shoulder of thickened portion 44 of shell 34. The diam'- eter ofportion 51 of the cap is such that it is snugly received within springring 42 when the cap is in its outer position, and the inner diameter ofthe outer end portion 52 of the cap is such as snugly 'but -slidingly toreceive insert 36. Thus, with the cap in its outer position, aneffective substantial seal, which prevents the entry of rain, snow, andthe like, is presented between the outer end of shell 34 and insert 36.

The diameter of the outer end of hood 39 is substantially equal to thatof the central portion of part 52 of the cap. Thus, when parts 12 and 14of the connector are brought into engagement, the hood 39 engages andpresses cap 46 axially to retract it to the position shown in FIG. 1.

In order further to protect the parts from the atmosphere, particularlywhen they Iare fully engaged, shell 24 is provided with a boot member60, made of rubber or the like, which has an outer end of frusto-conicalshape when it is in relaxed position as shown in FIG. 2. The inner endof such boot, which is of cylindrical configuration, snugly engages theouter surface of shell 24 beneath a flange 58 thereof, land is held onthe shell `by a ring clamp 61. When the connector parts are in operativeengagement, the boot 60 will deform so that its outer portion isstretched to lie flat upon skin 11 of the drone, and thus effect a seal`between skin 11 and shell 24.

In the embodiment shown, the inner end of connector portion 14 is madein the form of a 4smaller pin connector, generally designated 53. Suchsmaller connector has an insulating insert 55 through which a centralpin contact 56, integral with socket contact 37, extends. An outermetallic shell 54, integrally connected to shells 34 and 35, is providedwith threads whereby to receive the nut of another, socketcontact-carrying, connector part (not shown).

When the connector parts 12 and 14 are in mating engagement, theconnector presents a complete radio-shielding of the circuit. Thus theshielding sheath of cable 20 is connected to metal Iferrule l19, whichin turn is connected tothe metal enclosure formed by members 17 and 15.Member 21, within such enclosure, is connected to metal shell 24, which,when the connector parts are in operative mating engagement, has endengagement with metal shell 34 of connector part 14.

The mother and drone vehicles are connected on the ground. IIn effectingsuch connection, the connector parts :are initial-ly partially engaged,and the drone vehicle is then shifted as required relative to the mothervehicle to permit the releasable means 13 to be engaged. The yieldablemounting of connector part 12 allows considerable misalignment betweenthe axis of opening 16 in skin 10 of the parent vehicle and the axis ofconnector part 14 when releasable means 13 are engaged without injury tothe connector parts.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification,it is to be expressly understood that various changes, such as in therelative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and the like, as wellas the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of the invention, may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In the combination of a first Iand a second body adapted selectivelyto be secured together with the surfaces of the bodies in closeconfronting relationship or separated from each other, releasable meansto secure the bodies together, `and circuits in the two bodies adaptedto 'be electrically connected to each other when the bodies are securedtogether, the improvement which comprises a separable electricalconnector having mating parts mounted on the respective bodies, a firstone of the connector part-s being rigidly secured to the first body, theother, second, of the connector p-arts being retractably mounted on thesecond body, resilient means mounted inwardly of the 4second bodyconstantly urging said second connector part outwardly of the secondbody, each connector part comprising a shell, the shell of the secondconnector part extending outwardly through an opening in the side of thesecond body, a resilient electrically insulating member within each ofthe shells', and a contact within each of the insulating members andsupported by and having a portion surrounded by the respectiveinsulating member, one of said contacts being a pin contact and theother of the contacts being a socket contact receiving the pin contact,the insulating members being sealed to their respective bodies andhaving end engagement when the bodies are secured together and theconnector parts a-re engaged, said resilient means lurging theinsulating members sealingly together when the bodies are securedtogether and the connector parts are in mating engagement.

2. The apparatus -as claimed in claim l, wherein the opening in the sideof said second body markedly exceeds the diameter of the shell passingtherethrough, and comprising a flange extending generally radiallyoutwardly from the second shell inwardly of the second body, and a coilcompression spring within the second body and acting between thelli-ange and an abutment attached to the second body, whereby to urgethe said second shell outwardly of the second body and to provide forits limited universal movement with respect to the second body.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flange forms the endwall of a cup-like member having an upstanding side wall coaxial withthe shell to which the fiange is attached, the cup-like member has aninner diameter appreciably exceeding that of the shell, and one end ofthe spring fits .guidingly within the side Wal-l of the member.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the other end of thespring engages a transverse abutment se- 6 cured to the said respectivebody, and comprising a flexible lconductor extending through .and sealedto said abutment and connected to the said second connector part mountedon said second body, and a flexible sealing boot surrounding theflexible conductor and sealed to the abutment and to said secondconnector part.

5. 'In the combination of two bodies adapted selectively to be securedwith the surfaces of the bodies in close confronting relationship orseparated from each other, releasable means to secure the .bodiestogether, and circuits in the two bodies adapted to be electricallyconnected to each other when the bodies are secured together, theimprovement which comprises a separable electrical connector havingmating parts mounted on the respective bodies, one of the parts having apin contact and the other of the parts having a socket contact receivingthe pin, each such part having a shell, the axially outer end of thefirst part being located substantially iiush with the surface of thebody on which it is mounted, the first shell, of the first part, having.a radially outer cylindrical sleeve portion and a radially inner socketmounting sleeve portion coaxial of and markedly spaced from the radiallyouter portion, an annular cap reciprocably mounted lin the space betweensaid radially inner and outer portions of the shell, and resilient meansconstantly urging the captoward an outer terminus generally iiush withthe axially outer end of said radially outer portion of the said firstshell, the second shell, of the second connector part, having lanannular hood disposed labout and spaced from the contact pin of thesecond connector part, the hood being rigidly connected to the secondshell, said hood being received in the .annular space in the shell ofthe first part and markedly depressing the cap thereof when the twoconnector parts are mating relationship, resilient electricallyinsulating members sealedto their respective bodies', supporting the pinand socket, and surrounding portions thereof, said resilient insulatingmembers having end engagement when the bodies are secured together andthe connector parts are engaged, and means resiliently urging theinsulating members sealingly together when the bodies are securedtogether and the connector parts are in mating engagement.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the socket extends to alocation adjacent the axially outer end of the first shell, the socketis mounted in a first electrically insulating sleeve having its endsecured to the axially inner portion of the first shell, the pin ismounted in a second electrically insulating sleeve secured within thesecond shell, and the two sleeves have sealing end engagement when theconnector parts are in fully engaged mating relationship.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, comprising means releasablyconnecting the two connector parts together when they are in fullyengaged mating relationship.

8. In the combination of a first and a second broadsurfaced body adaptedselectively to be secured together with the surface of the bodies inclose confronting generally parallel relationship or separated from eachother, releasable means to secure the bodies together, and circuits inthe two bodies adapted to be electrically connected to each other whenthe bodies are secured together, the improvement which comprises aseparable electrical connector having mating parts mounted on therespective bodies, a first one of the connector parts being rigidlysecured to the first body and disposed generally normal to the surfacethereof, the other, second, of the connector parts being retractablymounted on the second body and disposed generally normal to the broadsurface thereof, resilient means mounted on the second body constantlyurging said second connector part outwardly of the second body, eachconnector part comprising a shell, the shell of the second connectorpart extending outwardly of the board surface of the second body, aresilient electrically insulating member within each of the shells, anda contact within each of the insulating members and supported by therespective insulating member, one 0f said contacts being a pin contactand the other of the contacts being a socket contact receiving the pincontact, the insulating members being sealed to their respective bodiesand having end engagement when the bodies are secured together by thereleasable means and the connector parts are engaged, said resilientmeans urging the insulating members sealingly together when the bodiesare secured together and the connector parts are in mating engagement.

9. The apparatus as claimed n claim 8, comprising means mounting thesecond one of the connector parts on its respective body, said lastnamed means including said resilient means and being s0 constructed andarranged as to provide for limited universal movement of the secondconnector part relative to its respective body.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSWoernley Oct. 18, 1921 Warren Aug. 26, 1941 Humphrey Feb. .21, 1956Klostermann July 3l, 1956 Klostermann Aug. 28, 1956 Melcher Sept. 4,1956 Eaton Dec. 25, 1956 Flanagan Mar. 10, 1959 Johnson May 31, 1960FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 16, 1959

1. IN THE COMBINATION OF A FIRST AND A SECOND BODY ADAPTED SELECTIVELYTO BE SECURED TOGETHER WITH THE SURFACES OF THE BODIES IN CLOSECONFRONTING RELATIONSHIP OR SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER, RELEASABLE MEANSTO SECURE THE BODIES TOGETHER, AND CIRCUITS IN THE TWO BODIES ADAPTED TOBE ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER WHEN THE BODIES ARE SECUREDTOGETHER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A SEPARABLE ELECTRICALCONNECTOR HAVING MATING PARTS MOUNTED ON THE RESPECTIVE BODIES, A FIRSTONE OF THE CONNECTOR PARTS BEING RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE FIRST BODY, THEOTHER, SECOND, OF THE CONNECTOR PARTS BEING RETRACTABLY MOUNTED ON THESECOND BODY, RESILIENT MEANS MOUNTED INWARDLY OF THE SECOND BODYCONSTANTLY URGING SAID SECOND CONNECTOR PART OUTWARDLY OF THE SECONDBODY, EACH CONNECTOR PART COMPRISING A SHELL, THE SHELL OF THE SECONDCONNECTOR PART EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE SIDE OF THESECOND BODY, A RESILIENT ELECTRICALLY INSULATING MEMBER WITHIN EACH OFTHE SHELLS, AND A CONTACT WITHIN EACH OF THE INSULATING MEMBERS ANDSUPPORTED BY AND HAVING A PORTION SURROUNDED BY THE RESPECTIVE INSULAT-